An Appreciative Reader.—There are many books of instruction on painting, by the help of which you might make considerable progress. You might try Brushwork, first book, by Miss Yates, published by Philip & Son, 32, Fleet Street, or Brushwork, or Painting without Pencil Outline, by Miss D. Pearce, published by Charles and Dible, 10, Paternoster Square.

Snowdrop.—Many thanks for your interesting letter. We have inserted your request. No, we cannot tell you of anything that will make you grow, except what you seem to enjoy, plenty of fresh air and good food. We are glad your life is so happy, and hope you try to put a little brightness into the lives of others who are not so fortunate. Perhaps your friend is unhappy on account of the troubles of other people. You should have a chat with her on the subject.

Miss McC. (Germany).—We fear your tune, through the mistake of a clerk, has been returned to you without criticism. If so, we are extremely sorry, and will give you our best advice in case you send it again.

A Devonian.—It is impossible to compose correctly without lessons in harmony. The “Kyrie” is rather weak, but the hymn tune is far better, so good that we think it is a great pity for you not to give your attention to the study of the theory of music.

Hêrê.—If the hymn tune enclosed is only your second attempt, we can frankly encourage you to persevere. You resolve your chords wrongly, more especially in the latter part of the tune; but study would amend that fault. We hope you will take lessons in harmony, as we think you have talent.

“Sis.”—There are at least 144 Schools of Art in connection with the Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education, in many of which instruction is given in architecture. You should apply to the Secretary, Science and Art Department, London, S.W. Architecture is an art by itself, and it would be useless for us to attempt to outline the course of instruction needful for an architect.

Ivy Leaves.—1. The specimen of prose composition you enclose is written in a curious way, as though it were intended for poetry. Prose usually flows consecutively on, line after line. You have evidently a love for nature and an eye for the beautiful, but more than this is needed for success in literature. You should read all you can.—2. Mary Queen of Scots was born at Linlithgow in 1542, a few days before the death of her father.

Gladwys.—You give no details of the sort of recitation you require, short or long, pathetic or humorous. “Aunt Tabitha,” by Oliver Wendell Holmes; “The Bishop and the Caterpillar” (Boy’s Own Paper); “The Walrus and the Carpenter,” by Lewis Carroll, are effective. “Over the Hill to the Poor House,” and “Over the Hill from the Poor House” are to be found, with other good recitations, in Alfred Miles’s American Reciter, price 6d. Of course, the volumes of Tennyson, Browning, Mrs. Browning, Longfellow, Whittier, Adelaide Anne Proctor, will provide you with an endless chain of lyrics.

Tatiana wishes to find a hymn beginning—

Another verse is—

She has been told that it is by F. Palgrave, but cannot trace it in his books.

“E. T.” wishes to know who wrote a poem entitled “The Trumpeter’s Betrothed,” and where she can obtain it.

“Doubtful” has answers from “Always in a Hurry,” “Leonore,” Mabel Entwistle, and A. Martin, who refer her for the poem “Somebody’s Mother” to Part I. of the Thousand Best Poems in the World, published by Hutchinson, and to the A 1 Reciter, edited by A. H. Miles. Three kind correspondents, A. M. Isaacs, Edith Rollason, and “Edythe” copy out the poem and send it to us for her.

“Always in a Hurry” asks for a poem in which occurs the line—

“Bright Star” wishes to know who composed the music to the song “Down our Street,” and where she will be likely to get it.

Can any reader help “Sailor” to a copy (words and music) of a song called “The Sailor’s Grave”? It is not Sir A. Sullivan’s, but an old song popular some thirty years ago. The first line is—

Seaton Devon asks for the author or publisher of a song for children, beginning—

Mabel Entwistle wishes to collect pictorial postcards from various parts of the world, and would gladly pay for the cards and postage if any subscriber, who happens to be going abroad, would send her some. The address is 1, William Street, Darwen, Lancashire.

We have an interesting letter from an Australian girl, who asks that a French young lady will kindly write direct to her. She has never been out of Australia, and says, “Letters from a French lady would be helpful to me in two ways; they would allow me to know something of home-life in France, and also help me to improve my knowledge of the language of that far-away land.” The address is, Miss F. Evelyn Smith, Medindie, Adelaide, South Australia.

We have a letter for “Miss Inquisitive” from Ruby Parsons, “Beemery,” Seymour Road, Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. If “Miss Inquisitive” will send us her address, we will for once infringe our rule and forward the letter to her.

Poppy wishes to correspond with a young French lady of good family, aged from eighteen to twenty-six, each to write once a month, and to correct and send back the other’s letters. Will some French lady of good family volunteer her name and address?

Miss E. G. Cole, 113, Vyse Street, Birmingham, seventeen years of age, would like to correspond with a young lady in French.

A Constant Reader, Lilian C. Brown wishes to correspond with a French young lady residing in France, age about twenty. The address is, 5, Wilton Mansions, Kelvinside, Glasgow.

Mrs. Joseph Smith, Box 4, Aberfoyle, Ontario, Canada, wishes for a correspondent on the coast of England, Ireland, or Scotland, with whom she could exchange pressed flowers and plants of Canada (natives) for sea-shells, or other sea curiosities. She would also like a correspondent in India, Ceylon, or Zanzibar.

Miss Eva M. Roper, Dunmow, Essex, wishes for a French correspondent, about twenty-two, or older, and suggests that each should write in her own language.

Miss Lizzie van Rees, Reehveve, Hilversum, Holland, wishes to write Dutch or German letters to a lady of her own age (17), who will reply in English or French.

Miss Carrie Germaine should write direct to Miss Dorothea Knight, whose address was given.

Miss E. W. Jefferson, Paris, Ontario, Canada, an Englishwoman of twenty-six, would like to correspond with Mademoiselle Goutard, or any of our correspondents—French, German, or Indian. She hopes to improve her knowledge of French and German, and also to give some help in return.

Miss L. Anning, Charlotte Rains, via Hughenden, N. Queensland, Australia, would like to correspond with “Miss Inquisitive,” or any “real English girl.” Miss Anning lives on a cattle station, and is sixteen years old.

K. A. (Music Teacher).—We cannot recommend any girl to come over to this country and seek employment as a teacher of music only. The competition in the musical world is so severe that only the best teachers succeed in any degree at all, and those who are not quite remarkably good are obliged merely to teach music as one among many subjects.

Julius Cæsar (Copying, etc.)—There is very little copying to be had since typewriting was introduced, and, in any case, the law stationers, to whom this class of work is usually entrusted, would not care to send it down to the West of England to be done. Plain needlework orders you might very likely obtain from people in your own locality. In our opinion, people who are obliged to live at home and to exercise great economy, cannot do better than work for themselves, that is to say, make their own clothes, do their own cooking and housework, etc. In this way they can at all events save themselves occasions for spending money. But earning for those who live in the heart of the country is much more difficult than for town-dwellers, while on the other hand living is cheaper.

A Well-Wisher of the “G. O. P.” (Emigration to Canada).—See reply to “Unsettled” (No. 1014). For your age you are certainly not receiving very high wages, and the fact suggests that you have no great talent for cooking. Perhaps you might do better in Canada, where the duties would be more varied. But we cannot take the responsibility of advising you to take such a step, as you are by no means badly off where and as you are. You might easily go further and fare worse.

Lorraine (Travelling Companionship).—There is really no demand for travelling companions. If you are fond of travelling, you had possibly better emigrate under the auspices of the British Women’s Emigration Association, Imperial Institute, Kensington, W.; but in this event you must be prepared to do plenty of domestic work. In the meantime, however, you should take a thorough course of training in cookery, etc. You could obtain this by spending some time in the Emigrants’ Training Home, Leaton, Wrockwardine, Wellington, Salop. Perhaps, however, you have a talent for some trade that you could pursue in the Old Country, and in this case it would be better to remain. But you give us no sufficient idea of your aptitudes for us to offer much practical guidance.

Georgiana.—The system which had its origin in Gautama Buddha was founded about 2500 years ago in India, upwards of 500 years before Christ, and Ceylon was the country of its earliest proselytism. Its dogmas represent a form of Atheism, as no God is acknowledged. Buddha represents a man, not a god, although divine adoration is paid to him and his supposed relics.

Miss Pryde.—We have pleasure in again drawing attention to your Home for Governesses, and others in Paris, in the Rue de la Pompe, Avenue du Bois de Boulogne, 152.

Bell.—We recommend you to write to Miss Pryde, of whom we have just given a notice. It is probable that she may receive you, and in any case give you renseignements.

Dorothy B.—At any china manufacturer’s where lessons are given, and artists are trained in china-painting, you could obtain any china sets for the purpose. Mortlock’s, for instance; you might write to the manager. They have a shop in Oxford Street, W.

Kathleen.—It is exceedingly ill-bred to have private jokes before a third party. It is a rule that there should be no whispering, nor any side-glances and “nudgings” unexplained to others present. Do not look cross, but inquire what the joke is. It is for you to judge whether it be expedient or agreeable to make a confidant or intimate friend of girls so ill-bred and untrustworthy.

St. Elmo.—We are not surprised that your father considers your writing illegible, as well as inartistic. Why do you drop some letters below the line of the others, the letter “o” especially? There is no such letter as that you substitute for a “y” and a “g,” and your “S” is a capital “E,” etc. You ought to write copies daily, and take pains to form your writing like the copper-plate examples. The song “Casta Diva” is in Bellini’s opera of “Norma.”

Cape Colony.—The person who is to be presented is not the person of the highest rank, nor most advanced age, but the person of the least rank, or the most juvenile. A man (out of courtesy and chivalric feeling) is presented to a woman, and so the friend or lady of the house brings him up to the lady, and says, “Allow me to present (or introduce) Mr. So-and-so,” just as at Court the subject is presented to the sovereign, not the superior to the inferior, in any case. How could you say, “Allow me to present Lord So-and-so,” to a young Lieutenant, for example, or lead up an elderly lady to a young girl, and say, “Let me introduce Lady Mary ——”? We are glad you continue to value our paper.

Pauline.—Perhaps one of your sisters might find hair-dressing suited her. Of course, in one department you would have a good deal of standing; but in the dressing of dummy heads for the windows, and the making-up of false hair you could sit. The work is remunerative when thoroughly acquired. Salaries range from 15s. to 30s. a week. Wig and front-making may be done for shops at home.

Amie.—We do not at a moment’s notice speak with authority on the question you ask; but it is our impression that a woman need only substitute the words “of full age” for the exact statement of her age. In some cases a copy of your baptismal register might be required, and in any case you had better consult the clergyman who is to perform the marriage service.

Heliotrope.—We do not understand why you cannot have the friendship of two schoolfellows as well as of one, or half a dozen. If you like them, and they are attached to you, there is no occasion for you to “throw off” the first you liked. As to “going with” either of them, it is not a case of an engagement nor betrothal. Be kind to each in turns, and say nothing of your preference to the friend you like the least, for your newer favourite. Exercise a little tact, and avoid wounding her.

Marcia.—You should procure a book on architecture. Of the Gothic there are five varieties—the Norman, dating from William I.’s time, 1066-1189; the Transition, from temp. Richard I., 1189; the Early English, from temp. Henry III., 1216; the Decorated, temp. Edward II., 1307; the Perpendicular, temp. Richard II., 1377, until the temp. Henry VIII., 1546. Since then, these several styles have been reproduced; besides which there have been two combinations—the Anglo-Norman and Semi-Norman. Of the Anglo-Saxon period in architecture you have not inquired, nor have we space to add much more. Perhaps the most curious specimens of this style are the tower of Sumpting Church, in Sussex, and that of Barnack, Northants. The Anglo-Norman, which succeeded it, deserves your attention, of which we may cite an example at Castle Rising, Norfolk, the crypt at Westminster Abbey, and many in Warwickshire. There is also the Semi-Norman style, which is beautifully represented in the ruins of Croyland Abbey, Lincolnshire.

Lover of Animals.—The grey parrot or jaco is indigenous to the west coast of Africa, and, as a rule, is a specially good talker. The cockatoo inhabits the Indies, isles of Oceania, and is docile and caressing, but, according to Louis Figuier, it is not a good talker. The very best that we ever saw in this respect, and the most affectionate, was a very large and handsome cockatoo. When purchased at Jamrack’s, it was exceedingly wild and fierce, but it became greatly attached to the lady who bought it, and tame enough to walk at liberty on the table, and quite harmless in company. Of course there are beautiful parrots, which are natives of Australia, that can be trained to talk, and if not teased when young, they do not scream.

L. W.—Chopin was not a Frenchman, though he resided for many years in France, and died in Paris. Many of his mazurkas, nocturnes, and polonaises were founded on Polish National airs, though adapted to the French style. He was a Pole, and born near Warsaw in 1809. But France may claim Gounod, who was a native of Paris, born in 1818, and the French may be proud to own him. His style is considered to resemble that of Meyerbeer.

Enquirer.—The knife is never used excepting to carve a joint, or fowl, or game of any kind, and to eat meat, or bread, or cheese. Fish is helped with a silver “slice” and fork, and by others a small silver knife and fork are used, never a steel one. For pastry, puddings of all descriptions, and vegetables, only a fork, or, if necessary, a spoon may be used in the higher ranks of society.